Sammy Hagar did not mince words about David Lee Roth at all in a new interview.
The Red Rocker spoke at length about Diamond Dave in an interview on Inside With Paulo Baron. When asked about the differences between him and Roth, Hagar said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth), “[David is] a real character. He’s a showman. He’s all show. I enjoy him. But you talk about cringing. I can’t imagine how he feels when he looks at some of them old videos, the way he was dancing and moving, and the way he was singing live sometimes. I don’t know how he feels about all that, but I don’t think he cares…He’s very much into himself, very much into being a showman and doesn’t really care. I don’t know what he cares about; I really don’t. I don’t know him. I have no idea who that guy is; I don’t think anyone does. But he entertains me. I enjoy watching him do stupid s—.”
As if that wasn’t blunt enough, Hagar added regarding Roth’s whole persona, “Well, the first thing I’d say is I look at him and I think, ‘Wow. He’s a strange person. He’s a strange character.’ He’s not what he’s saying he is; he’s pretending. He’s totally bulls—. Everything he does is thought up and it’s an image. It’s nothing to do with who he is; he’s not exposing who and what he is. And I know this for a fact. I knew that the first time I saw him. I said, ‘This guy, he’s putting on an image, putting on a show.’ He goes back home and goes in his house, and he’s a whole different guy — nothing to do with that guy [you see on stage]. He’s not honest about his image and his performance. That’s what I see when I see him; that’s how I feel. But I tried to be friends.”
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The whole “trying to be friends” thing likely happened when he and DLR booked a co-headlining tour in 2002. However, that tour was…well…just let Sammy explain it.
“When we did our together, I thought it was gonna be so much fun,” began Hagar. “I thought, ‘If he’s anything like he claims to be, we’re gonna have a good time.’ But he wasn’t. He was the worst guy to be around. He wasn’t ever around. He hides out. You never see him. He puts on this whole big front and comes out, ‘I’m here. David Lee Roth is here,’ and then he goes and hides again.”
Hagar added, “I don’t think he’s happy. He’s never been married; never had a relationship; never had children. It’s, like, man, how do you live like that? I don’t know. I’m a family man. And I love women — I love women and children… He hasn’t aged well — his voice. [Laughs] I don’t know. It’s hard.”
One word: Yikes! Of course, now that this interview is making the rounds, we’ll see if Roth will have a response. Perhaps he’ll draft up another cartoon!